Straw Dogs

Straw Dogs (1971)

Runtime: 118 minutes

Directed by: Sam Peckinpah

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Susan George, Peter Vaughan, T.P. McKenna, David Warner

From: ABC Pictures

Last night I viewed what has commonly been called the unrated version of Straw Dogs-five minutes longer than the R-rated cut-a film that is still challenging and provocative almost half a century later. It is not for all tastes as a bad thing happens to a cat-I know that is important to some-there are a few moments of strong violence, some horrible things happen to the leading lady (Amy, played by Susan George), there is a smattering of real uncomfortable bits, and Dustin Hoffman's David character is far from sympathetic... an academic type, he alternates between being obtuse and a real jerk. David's marriage to Amy is usually not a happy one, full of disagreement and boorish behavior.

Those that live in the UK, I will not assume that all your pastoral towns are filled with angry drunks, groups of guys that commit sexual assault & sing bawdy songs concerning sheep, and 15 year girls that overtly flirt w/ adult males. No matter your opinion of David, those villagers are far worse. The film takes its time setting up the story; the first half leads to the back half that is (of course) expertly edited, is intense, & does portray Amy's trauma very well. While not the easiest movie to watch for a variety of reasons, it was quite the journey and full of unforgettable characters, directed with style. As this is decidedly not in Hoffman's wheelhouse-this was a paycheck for him-it is an experience seeing him wreck dudes either via gun or various creative methods.

I imagine shooting the movie was quite the experience; T. P. McKenna's Major character has a broken life as it was a real life injury... due to something that happened at a soiree involving “ladies of the night”... furnished by Peckinpah! David Warner is unbilled as he couldn't be insured due to a broken leg... thankfully having nothing to do with any parties hosted by Old Sam. I imagine some have forgotten that this was actually remade in 2011; it has a nice cast and in fact, Google tells me this is of course not provocative like the original-which some even on Letterboxd will think is more palpable for their tastes-but I'll be judgmental and assume it's weak compared to what was released 49 years ago.